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The insurance agency has grown so huge, each specialized practice could be considered
its own industry. Insurance is a broad practice that covers auto, home, legal, life, medical,
property and many other areas. Licensing for Insurance Agents and Brokers happens at the
state level, through your state Insurance Commissioner or equivalent. Representatives
of each state commission come together through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
NAIC has been around for over a hundred years and offers industry ideas, but actual
regulation is left to each individual state insurance commission. Check with your state insurance
commission to find out specific requirements on how to become an agent or broker. Agents deal
with insurance carriers while brokers deal with insurance buyers.
Many insurance companies prefer agents and brokers with at least a four year college degree.
In California the Department of Insurance (or DOI www.doi.ca.gov) has prelicensing education requirements. The certification
is good for five years before it must be renewed. An exam is provided by the California
Department of Insurance (CDI). Applicants can also expect fingerprinting and other procedures.
Also, in order to maintain an insurance agent or brokers license(s), Continuing Education (CE) is required in nearly every state. That is also true
in California and is probably some of the most ridiculous and unnecessary bureaucratic "government money" generating "boondoggles" among the already endless
and needless requirements that have been passed in the name of "public safety" but are merely revenue generators for the government.
Now that I have that off my chest, I can tell you this this writer has been licensed as a Fire and Casualty Broker/Agent in California in the past and intends
to go through the 52-hour prelicensing class online in the month or so. It's not that I am excited to be licensed again: It's a matter of personal opportunity.
While I am not completely thrilled about having to go through the entire procedure of licensing all over again, the rewards in steady and residual income
are too great for me to leave on the table any longer. So, to make a long story longer, I will keep you updated on the process with which license school I choose, either online
or again at America's Training Institute where I was a student in the past. I will also keep you informed of how relevant the required classroom/study time
is to both the State Insurance Exam and to how relevant it is to the industry(s) I intend to serve.
There are many reasons and ways to pass State required exams and I have been through many different types including the above, as well as the State Real Estate
License Exam and the California General Building Contractor's Exam. In Both of those cases I used material provided by California License Services and was
extremely satisfied with their consulting services as well as their current and up-to-date license exam home study programs. I would give the a very positive
rating: 9.5 on a scale of 1 to 10, only because I know there is always a way every company can be better. In this case I think the CLS should offer the same high
level and successful school and preparation to the Insurance Exam as they do for other California State Exams. Maybe they will soon.
